During the planning stages, its
was named Acoupa. But on September 24, 1942, prior to her keel
laying on December 27, 1942, she was renamed Batfish after a
"small, pediculate fish resembling the stingray, which sits on the
bottom, supported by its fins, waiting for its prey which consists of
almost everything coming within its reach." Although the physical
comparison was unflattering, the implication of the expected performance
came through loud and clear. Batfish was constructed at the
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire, launched May 5, 1943 under
the sponsorship of Mrs. Nellie W. Fortier, and commissioned on August
21, 1943.

Launching of the Batfish at Portsmouth, NH, May 5, 1943

COMMISSIONING OF THE
BATFISH

Upon commissioning on August 21, 1942, Lieutenant Commander Wayne
R. Merrill, USN, assumed command of Batfish. The crew
stood rigidly proud in salute as the United States flag was
hoisted above the Batfish's stern. Then Captain Merrill
read his orders. Shakedown training began the next day.

Post-commissioning shakedown was held around Portsmouth, New
Hampshire. During the month of training exercises included in the
shakedown cruise, about 66% of the crew had to be qualified in
submarines and also learn the war time procedure of submarines. Diving, gunnery and seamanship drills were held
daily. In mid-September, Batfish sailed for Newport,
Rhode Island for torpedo exercises and then on to New London,
Connecticut, arriving on September 26, where gunnery drills took
priority. While in New London, Batfish had to pass the rigid
operational readiness inspection

and prove to Commander
Submarines Atlantic that the submarine was ready to go to war.
On October 9, Batfish passed her exams and went back to
New London for minor repairs and to take on fuel, provisions, and
a full load of live ammunition. On October 14, Batfish
was pronounced ready for battle and embarked towards Pearl Harbor
via the Panama Canal.

En route, on October 31, a periscope of a German U-boat was
sighted. Batfish avoided the submarine and in the
process, fired one stern torpedo. The torpedo missed and the U-
boat was never heard or sighted. On November 8, Batfish
entered the Bay of Panama and began the journey westward across
the Pacific to Pearl Harbor. On November 19, the rendezvous
point off Oahu was reached and Batfish was met by her
escort, YMS 286 which led Batfish into Pearl
Harbor. At 1 p.m. on December 11, 1943, Batfish backed
from the dock, departing on her first war patrol.

Crew Training off Long Island, August, 1943

Physical Properties
(Balao-class Submarines)

Class

Balao

Length (ft-in)

311-9

Beam (ft-in)

27-3

Draft (ft-in)

15-3

Pressure Hull Thickness (lb/sq in)

35-35.7

Surfaced Displacement (tons)

1525

Submerged Displacement (tons)

2415

Complement

10/70-71

Surface plant

4 X 1350 BHP (brake horse power)

Submerged plant

4 X 685 HP

Auxiliary plant

1 X 300 Kw

Battery (cells)

2 X 126 Sargo (Battery Type)

Capacity (amp-hr)

2 X 9300 (war)

Surface speed (kt)

20.25

Surface endurance (nm/kt)

11000 / 10

Submerged speed (kt)

8.75

Submerged endurance

48 hr at 2 kt

Test Depth (ft)

400

Tubes (bow)

6 X 21 in

Tubes (aft)

4 X 21 in

Torpedoes

24

Weights (tons)

Hull

697.06

Hull Fittings

149.15

Machinery

448.65

Engines (dry)

52.43

Batteries

192

Motors

24.30

Armament

41.05

Ammunition

40.88

Equipment and Outfit

54.19

Stores and Fresh Water

37.99

Complement

6.47

MBT Capacity

615.72

Lead Ballast

87

Standard Displacement

1545.29

Fuel Oil

175.94 / 300.91

Lubricating Oil

19.33 / 22.63

Design Displacement

1804.1

Machinery

Main Engines

No. / Mfg.: 4 /
Fairbanks, Morse

Type: Opposed Piston

Cylinders: 9

Model: 38D8 1/8

BHP: 1535

Main Generators

No. / Mfg: 4 /
Elliott

KW: 1100

Auxiliary Engine

No. / Mfg.: 1 /
General Motors

Type: ?

Auxiliary Generators

No. / Mfg.: 1 / ?

KW: 300

Main Motors

No. / Mfg.: 4 /
Elliott

HP: 1375

Reduction Gears

Mfg.: Westinghouse

Ratio: ?

Arrangement

E5

E=Engine, M=Motor,
G=Generator, R=Reduction Gear

Storage Batteries

No.: 2 X 126

Mfg.: Gould Storage
Battery Co.

Model: OWTX49B

Propulsion Controls

Westinghouse

Total Shaft HP

Surface: 5400

Submerged: 2740

Sources:
- Alden, The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy: A Design and Construction History
- Friedman, U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History